Paper joining machine



1948- K. H. WILCOXON PAPER JOINING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

KENNETH H. W/LGOXON HIS ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 3, 1 948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER JOINING MACHINE Kenneth H. Wilcoxon, Cabin John, Md. Application September 18, 1944, Serial No. 554,709

3 Claims. (Cl. 154-42) This invention relates to paper machines and other machines through which it may be desired to run a substantially continuous web of fabric.

In printing operations on a large scale, and continuous in nature, as in newspapers and magazines, paper for the presses is supplied ordinarily in large rolls; but with the use of modern, high-speed presses, even these large rolls last only a short time, and it is necessary, therefore, to change rolls frequently.

It is desirable, of course, not to have to stop the printing presses each time the paper rolls are changed; and many attempts have been made to provide continuous press operation by joining together the expiring paper web and a web from a new roll. The most common procedure is to smear the end of the new web with adhesive, start the new roll rotating in the proper direction, and bring it into contact with the expiring web. While two webs can usually be joined sufliciently in this manner, commonly a large amount of paper is spoiled, since a good connection is seldom made immediately, and that part of the expiring web which has contacted the new roll and has picked up some of the adhesive must be discarded. When good paper is being used, this wastage is an item of considerable expense.

Printing presses, moreover, that print on highgloss paper are finely adjusted, and are unable to take three thicknesses of paper without damage to the type. The joining operation just described ordinarily leaves long, loose, trailing ends of paper Which are apt to be twisted and folded, and thus require that the presses be halted until such ends can be removed. Should such presses be halted for this or any other reason, the type will become over-inked, and several hundred feet of expensive paper will be spoiled before the type again reaches its proper condition.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide means for joining together a new web of paper and an expiring web without waste, and without the necessity of stopping the presses.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- .vide means as indicated whereby the movement of the webs of paper can nevertheless be halted momentarily while connection is made between them.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for producing a strong lap-joint between two webs of paper, and to leave, in connection therewith, no loose, trailing ends.

Additional objects are: to provide means for holding positively in proper position for a joining operation the end of a new web of paper, means for bringing the said end into proper contacting relation with the expiring web, means for making positive contact between the new and the old web, and means for severing the old web after a proper connection has been made between the two webs.

Further objects will be apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims:

Figure 1 is a side viewfsomewhat schematic in nature, of a paper machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view, also taken from the side of the machine, illustrating the paper joining means of the invention.

Figure 3 shows the paper cutting knife and associated parts.

Figure 4 is a detail of a part of the knifemounting means, showing the knife in inoperative position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but with the knife in raised position after a cutting operation.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, a framework is provided for the various elements of the mechanism, and this framework may be seen to include a base member H], a top member H, and vertical supports 12, I3 and H. An angularly arranged bar I5, secured to the two members II and I3, serves as a brace, and also supports certain other equipment, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Mounted in the framework, for rotational movement therein, as on pivot 20 in member I2, is a carrier 2i for the paper rolls 22 and 23. The normal position of this carrier is vertical, as shown in Figure 1. Braking means, as 24 and 25, permit the stopping of the rolls 22 and 23, respectively, when desired.- Some means, as indicated by the simple bar or spike 26 passing through member I2 and carrier 2|, should be provided for locking the carrier in the vertical position shown. It will be understood, of course, that a carrier with more than two rolls of paper may be used in the machine.

0n the opposite side of the machine (to the right in Figure 1), there are supported from member II, by means of arms 30, Si and 32 and vertical member [4, respectively, rollers 34, 35, 36 and 31, and below these may be seen further rollers 38, 39 and 40, mounted for rotation in a bar 45 which in turn is adapted to slide vertically in suitable guides 46 and 41, on the members l3 and I4. Similar supporting means for through the flexible tube 53 the opposite ends of the several rollers should be In,

assumed. V

The operation of these parts (in which no novelty is claimed) will be briefly described before explaining the present invention proper. From roll 22, at the top of member 2|, paper is threaded over roll 34, downward and around roller 38, upward and over 35, and in like manner around rollers 39, 36, 40 and 31, whence it is fed into the press. Under normal operating 7 conditions the lower rollers ride high in the machine but, upon a slowing of the press or an acceleration of roll 22, the parts will assume the relations shown in substantially level and on a plane with the forated plate 52. hooked within the arm. 66, so as to beremovable therefrom, and this arm is pivoted to the memi fmotorfthe solenoid 56', which acts on an arm oted at 14 to member I5, arm 56, and pivoted Figure 1, and thus provide considerable excess paper between the supply roll and the press. If

the press is momentarily speeded' up, or if the roll 22 is slowed or halted, tensionon the paper web is increased, and the bar 45, with its'rollers time, arm 66 carries the left end of the knife up-' 38, 39 and 40, rises in the guides 46 and 41, thereby permitting the press to utilize the paper in the system of rollers Stops, as Y48 and 49, limit the downward movement of ,bar 45. In addition, there will commonly be a mechanical or electrical linkage between bar 45 and the paper rollers, whereby the speed of rotation of the paper rolls will be governed to some extent by the position of the bar and its rollers. There is otherwise danger that, with bar 45 in its lowermost position, too much paper will accumulate and the web will become loose, and, with bar 45 in its upper position, tension on the web will become too, great, both of which conditions are aptto result in a rupture of the web.

'As has been mentioned, the machine is intended to carry two rolls of paper, 22 and 23.- While one is being used, the other is prepared for use, that is, it is made ready for joining with theweb moving through the rollers and into the press. The means for holding the new web in :its proper relation to the old one, and for actually carrying out the joining operation, may be seen in Figure 1, but are bestillustrated inFigures 2 and '3. With reference especially to Figure 1, 50 is an arm, with a pivot This arm is adapted for mounting on brace framework of the machine. The upper end of arm 50 is somewhat enlarged, is fiat, and is pro vided. with perforations 52, which communicate with an air pump (not shown). Thisarm is adapted to swing to the left and downwardly on'its pivot, so as to leave sufficient room for easy insertion of the end of the new paper web, as will be further described. Associated with the arm 50,v and just to the left of it in Figure 2, is a knife member comprising a knife proper 55* (preferably provided with a serrated edge, as may be seen in Figure 3) an actuating arm 56, and a solenoid 56' for driving the arm. Also adjacent arm 50, and supported therefrom'by lugs, as .51, for rotation therein, is a. roller 58. It is desirable that the periphery of this roller extend somewhat above the perforated plate 52, as shown.

Above the elements just described, andmounted independently thereof, on support (Figure 1), is an arm 60, This arm is arranged to move member J5 of the.

downwardly on a pivotBl-pbeing driven by solenoid 62, actingthrough the bar 53 and pivot 64- until it rests on the fiat face of perforated plate 62. The free end of arm 60 is, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, supplied with a H, and thence, through pivot 12, on lever 13, pivlever 11, whereby, as will be seen, an upward movement of arm I! results in movement'ofthe right end of the'knife upwardly and to the right, 1

it being pivotedto arm 11 at 18. At the same wardly. The parts are so calculated that, on completion of the upward movement, the bottom edge of the knife is above roller 34.

The lower edge of knife 55 is rounded and smooth, to avoid the possibility-of scratching'or' tearing the new web prior to the-cutting operation. r The machine operates in the, following manner (it being assumed at the outset'that the parts are all in the conditionsshown in Figure 1) Knife 55 is swung upwardly on pivot moved therefrom, and bar 51) is moved downwardly. The outer end of the new rollof apaper 23' is freed, and brake 25 is released: The end then is carried upwardly, over-roller 56, which rotates freely, and positioned on. plate 52. I'The air .pump (not shown); maintains a low pressure in conduit 53 and in the communicating perforations in plate 52'; andthe paper thus is held firmly.

on the plate. A suitable. adhesive, preferably of a type that is set quickly by heat and pressure,

is applied to the upper side of the paper on the plate. Ordinary make-ready? paste has been found quite satisfactory. Knife 551s replaced, itsleft end being securedin arm 66. Arm 50,

with its associated parts, is next moved upwardly to a positon such that the face'of p ate 521s parallel and, very close to the expiring web of paper from roll 22 ,(see Figure 2) The actual joining operation is begun applying brake 24 to roll 22 to'stop the samemAshas I been explained, the press or otherprocessing apparatus maycontinue to function for a limited time, notwithstanding such stoppage, because of the excess paper in the roller'system 34, 38, 35,

39,36, 40 and 31. -When the expirin webhas ceased to move, solenoid 62 is activated; and

forces downward arm 60 and its heating. element 65. The heat and'pressure combine to perfect a union between the old and the new web in a matter of one'or two seconds, the time depending upon several factors, as the typeof paper and adhesive, and the degrees of'heat and pressure.

As soon as the union is completed, or, if desired, even as it is begun, solenoid 55'- is energized,rand, acting through the linkage'lL-B, 56,11, forces knife 55upward1y andrightwardly (Figure 3), thus severing the old web. Immediately, solenoid 62 is de-energized, retracting spring 60 liftsarm- 61) away from thelpaper and plate 52, and-air isadmitted to line. 53, freeing the; paper from plate 52. By way of speeding up the operatiomthe air 1 may be admittedas soon as member 60 is tfirmly V seated on plate 52.

- The new web then startsthrough the machinm- If desired, since theinertiaof a full roll of paper is substantial,;roll 23{ maybe'rotated somewhat, 7

The left end of the knife is r the retracted position shown 7 16, or re- 7 by hand or otherwise, to ease the strain on the web. The size of rollers 58 and 34 is such that the web will clear the perforated plate.

Next, carrier 2 I, which supports the two paper rolls, is turned counterclockwise on pivot 20 until roll 23 is at the top and 22 is at the bottom, the used roll is removed, and a full roll substituted. Knife 55 is unhooked from arm 66, which arm is retracted by spring 68, and solenoid 56 is deenergized, whereupon arm H and its associated elements can be returned to their normal positions (as in Figure 3).

The machine is then ready for another operation,

One specific embodiment of my invention has been described and illustrated. It will be understood, however, that many changes are possible within the spirit and intent of the invention, for the true scope of which, therefore, reference should be had to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine adapted normally to have a web of fabric moving therethrough, means for joining to such a web another web, said means comprising a member adapted to lie adjacent one side of the said first web when in one position and having means for releasably holding one end of said other web, means for stopping said first mentioned web, means for applying pressure to one of said webs thereby to force the same against the other web, means for cutting said first mentioned web behind the joint thus formed and for releasing said second mentioned web, anda roller or the like adapted to receive said other web ahead of said member, a roller behind said member, said cutting means being located between said member and the first mentioned roller and having a cutting stroke ending beyond the periphery of said roller.

2. In a machine adapted normally to have aweb of fabric moving therethrough, means for joining to such web another web, said means comprising a member having a substantially fiat face approximately coextensive with the joint to be made with means for releasably holding thereon a portion of said other web, said face being substantially spaced from said first mentioned web when said member is in one position and substantially parallel to and adjacent said first mentioned web when said member is in another position, a secthe first mentioned web behind the joint thus formed, means for releasing the second mentioned web from said face, and means for supporting said other web ahead of said face, said last mentioned means extending effectively above said face.

3. In a machine adapted normally to have a web of fabric moving therethrough, means for joining to such web another web, said means comprising a, member having a substantially fiat face approximately coextensive with the joint to be made with means for releasably holding thereon a portion of said other web, said face being substantially spaced from said first mentioned web when said member is in one position and substantially parallel to and adjacent said first mentioned web when said member is in another position, a second member having a surface approximately coextensive with the joint to be made, means for stopping said first mentioned web, means for moving one of said members toward the other when said first mentioned member is in its said other position thereby to press the two webs together between said members, means for cutting the first mentioned web behind the joint thus formed, means for releasing the second mentioned web from said face, means for supporting said other web ahead of said face, and supporting means on the opposite side of said face, said two last mentioned means extending efiectively above said face.

KENNETH H. WILCOXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,035,682 Wikle Mar. 31, 1936 2,018,907 Wood Oct. 29, 1935 1,261,056 Pfoh1 Apr. 2, 1918 1,640,533 Coldwell Aug. 30, 1927 1,623,277 Scott Apr. 5, 1927 

